Positive Charge PDX

Working with Positive Charge

January 29, 2026

Dear Liza,

YEs, I know it’s too early for Valentines, but these things need some lead time.

Auntie Bridgett, our friend Cynthia, and I had a fine crafty morning last week, making Valentine cards. We cut, glued, wove, pieced, drew, and painted (as our whims and talents determined) and ended up with 12 pretty nifty cards.

This was my style… torn paper collages that I trimmed into shape. Pretty, thematic, and easy enough to do while chatting.

These cards will be distributed by Positive Charge, a group here in town who works with Meals on Wheels to make sure folks who are isolated get some holiday cheer and pretty things to look at, along with their nourishment.

These are Cynthia’s. Aren’t they nifty? That weaving took a long time! Fancy scissors helped make the edges pretty, too.

Working with Positive Charge is helping us to feel better in these difficult times. We know we are bringing happiness to folks, and the company and crafting is just good for the soul.

Auntie Bridgett, of course, used her cartooning talents to make these cuties. Sketching and watercolors are her happy place.

Today we will walk the cards down to Floyd’s Coffee Bar to be picked up and handed out on Valentine’s Day. This artsy do-good-ery is the sort of thing Bridgett’s character Auntie Beeswax would do, and I totally approve!

I hope you are finding ways to stay happy, too!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Christmas Cards for Positive Charge

December 4, 2025

Dear Liza,

Our dark, rainy weather has started, but I have a sunny warmth in my heart (and my art closet). Auntie Bridgett and I are making Christmas cards to give away through a local non-profit called Positive Charge. These lovely ladies make sure that folks in rest homes and hospitals get a bit of holiday cheer from people they don’t even know!

I love to make art, but I’m not very consistent. Some days I seem to have a gift, and other days, everything I touch goes to smudges. So to make a bunch of cards, I need a few Grandma Judy proof tricks.

I found this one on several YouTube channels, and gave it a try. It is pretty easy.

Start with a blank greeting card. About an inch or so from the top, measure to find the center and put a tiny pencil dot. About an inch from the bottom, measure and put dots about 3/4” from each edge. Run strips of painter’s tape between the dots to make a Christmas tree sort of triangle. Press the inside edge to get a good seal.

Then comes the fun part! Using whatever paint, sponges, brushes, or other mark-making tools you have, add some color inside the triangle.

Here is acrylic paint applied with a packing material sponge. It is more interesting if there are flecks, dots, or other irregularities.

When you like the look of it, carefully peel the tape off to leave the triangle. You can re-use each piece of tape about three times before it starts ‘leaking’.

Then you decorate your tree! I made several, but have only decorated one so far.

I used UHU to apply circles punched from a fancy Christmas envelope from my dentist’s office for the baubles and star, and some recycled wrapping paper for the base.

These are just the basics. You can add ribbon, glitter, or whatever you like.

Enjoy!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Positive Charge

Dear Liza,

It has been a while since I’ve written. I felt like I was repeating myself, didn’t have anything good to say, and just needed to stop talking for a while.

Several things have helped me out of my rut. First, I ran into a group called The Portland Raging Grannies, and have joined them. This group of local women write songs and march at rallies to chant for justice. I think all our small voices taken together can help change the injustices currently washing over us, and give people hope.

Next, I found the Portland Food Project, which collects food from local folks and distributes it to food banks. I have thought I couldn’t help because I don’t drive, but the Food Project comes by twice a month to collect the food! This is a very convenient way to make sure our local folks are fed….Because fed people are happier people.

Then there is Positive Charge PDX. This group was founded by Sally and her daughter Jordan, and their sole mission is to amplify kindness in the world. This year they have collected over 1,700 Valentine cards which will be distributed to old folks homes and Meals on Wheels, so folks with no friends or family can still get a smile in Valentine’s Day. I met them at Tov Coffee when I was dropping off our donations.

I realized that since the election, I have felt a bit beaten down… like there was more ick than joy in the world. But meeting these positive, creative, power -of -the -people groups has given me new hope for our countries’ future.

And for my own, as well.

Love,

Grandma Judy